CELTIC SPEAK
UNDERSTANDING MODERN CELTIC LANGUAGES THROUGH OLD COMMON CELTIC
by TARANUCNOS ESUGENOS
EDITOR'S NOTE: Taranucnos Esugenos is the Uerdruis (Over or Arch-Druid) of the Comardiia Druvidiacta America or Druidic Cofraterity of America out of Tucson, AZ. CELTIC SPEAK is edited by permission from linguistics discussions in letters to the editor on Old Common Celtic. Taranucnos can be reached by writing: 2922 S. Marvin Ave., Tucson, AZ 85730 -1755.
SUBUTA!
Old Common Celtic is the earliest or most ancient form of any of the present modern Celtic languages, the mother both of the Goidelic and Brythonic (Q-Celtic and P-Celtic) branches. It is a reconstruction of a kind of Proto-Celtic stemming from its Indo-European origin. "Gaulish" (a now nearly extinct Celtic language) is a dialect of Old Common Celtic. In focusing on a proto-Celtic dialect, we are not ignoring the Gaels (or any other primary Celtic culture) at all, but are promoting a Pan-Celtic tongue amongst Druides and fellow Celtoi to help unite us all. With other Celtic cultural organizations world wide, C.D.A. is using the Old Common Celtic dialect to promote the use of a pan-Celtic liturgical or ritual tongue and international means of communication with all Druids, Celtoi and other Celt believers. This is the direction in which this column is aimed.
One of the most common of the ancient Celtic greetings is "SUBUTA!" which means "blessings!" Literally it means "Good life" from "su" (good) and "buta" (life). Subuta is used to greet a friend or kinsman, or as a parting wish to the same. Subuta is also commonly used in ritual. An example of this is a little prayer in Old Common Celtic that we in the C.D.A. use and say to Brigantia (Ana) every morning before Her shrine, image or as it was in the Old Celtic' household the family hearthfire (today before a red candle and/or statue or picture of Her). It is usually performed by the female head of any household, but may be performed by anyone who is head of their own home, apartment etc:
IF PERFORMED BY THE MOTHER, OR FEMALE HEAD IN THE FAMILY, THE HEAD SHOULD BE VEILED BY A SHAWL OR OTHER COVERING SUCH AS A BRIDE'S CLOTH* OF WHITE WOOL.
* A white woolen cloth dedicated to Brigit and used for healing. Left outdoors on Imbolc Eve to absorb Brigit's healing powers.
FACE EAST WITH HANDS UPRAISED SAYING:
SUBUTA ANA ENI PAPOS DONIOS. SUBUTA BRIGANTIA ENI PAPOS AMSERA AC BITUS SUBUTA BUETI UER SASIN TEGOSLOUGA!
ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
BLESSINGS OF ANA IN EVERY PLACE. BLESSINGS OF THE HIGHEST ONE (BRIGANTIA) IN THIS TIME, AND BLESSINGS BE UPON THIS HOUSEHOLD!
PHONETIC PRONUNCIATION OF THE COMMON CELTIC:
SOO-BOO-TA AH-NAH EN-EE PAH-POS DOH-NIOS. SOO-BOO-TA BREE-GAN-TEE-AH EN-EE PAH-POS AM-SARAH AK BEE-TOOSE SOO-BOO-TA BOO-AY-TEE WER SAH-SIN TAY-GOEH-SLOO-GAH !
IF AN OFFERING IS TO BE GIVEN (BURNT ON HER FIRE OR WITHIN AN INCENSE BURNER, ETC...), SAY THE FOLLOWING AFTER THE WORD "TEGOSLOUGA":
RODAMI TE SINTA ATEBERTA. ITA BUETI!
ENGLISH:
ACCEPT YOU THIS OFFERING OR I OFFERED TO YOU THIS SACRIFICE. BE IT SO !
PHONETIC:
ROEH-DA-MEE TAY SINTA AH-TAY-BEAR-TA. EE-TA BOO-AY-TEE !
According to tradition (as practiced by the C.D.A., which is of Breton, Gaulish extraction although in practice pan-Celtic), Deua Brigantia (the Goddess Brigantia) is pictured with red hair and breasts exposed.
Till next time I wish each dear SVASER CELTIACA BITUS BRATIR CELTIACA - AGOMOS CNUTTON CANTA DEUOBIS ! SUBUTA TE ! (Celtic sister and Celtic brother - Let us go together with the Gods! Good life [blessings] to you!)
TU BRATIR (Your Brother),
TARANUCNOS ESUGENOS
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